Man killed at Chester Zoo after getting trapped under bus during maintenance work

A 46-year-old man has died at Chester Zoo after getting trapped under a double decker bus while carrying out maintenance work.

Cheshire Police were called to a car park at the attraction at 12.30pm on today following reports of an incident outside the zoo. Cheshire Police confirmed that officers had attended the scene and found a man trapped under a double decker bus.

The man, who is believed to be from Wigan, tragically died after getting trapped underneath the bus just after midday. Chester Zoo remained open during the day, although a small section remained closed off.

A witness told The Chester Chronicle that he was working underneath it near the right rear wheel. The witness said the bus came off blocks which were being used to prop it up.

North West Ambulance attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cheshire Police issued a statement saying:

“Officers attended the scene and found that a man had become trapped under a double decker bus on the coach car park outside the zoo.

The bus is believed to have been empty at the time the incident occurred.

North West Ambulance Service attended the incident and sadly the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently under way and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.”

Chester Zoo’s chief executive officer Mark Pilgrim said their ‘thoughts and sympathies are very much with his family and all involved’.